- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world, praised for their rich potassium content and ability to give natural energy boosts. While cats are usually finicky when it comes to food, if you’ve noticed your kitty companion sniffing around the bunch of bananas on your kitchen counter, it’s easy to question if they can partake. Yes, cats can eat bananas.
However, “as a general rule, fruits and vegetables are not species-appropriate for cats, given their status as obligate carnivores,” says Dr. Neus Torrent Ample, DVM and Animal Nutritionist at Outdoor Bengal. This means that while bananas aren’t toxic to cats, they might not have any health benefits due to a cat’s unique digestive system.
Below, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of bananas for cats and how to feed this fruit to your kitty.
Are Bananas Healthy for Cats?
The fiber, magnesium, vitamin B6, and potassium content in bananas make this tropical treat a nutritional powerhouse for humans. But those plant-based benefits aren’t such a sweet deal for our kitties.
Like most fruits, bananas are carb-heavy. Because cats are obligate carnivores, Dr. Torrent Ample says they don’t need carbs in their diet. Pet parents are better off feeding their kitty species-appropriate animal protein alternatives like freeze-dried chicken and liver, dried bonito flakes, and freeze-dried minnows or shrimp.
However, bananas can be used in small quantities as a sweet treat and act as environmental enrichment.
How to Feed Bananas to Cats
Any banana lover knows these yummy yellow snacks aren’t limited to raw fruit and come in a variety of forms. When feeding your cat bananas, avoid banana bread or cake; many of the non-banana ingredients in these can be toxic to cats, including chocolate chips or cow’s milk. Additionally, banana chips with added sugars and oils are also off the table.
So, how can cats eat bananas safely? While fresh bananas are the best choice, Dr. Torrent Ample says dried bananas with no added ingredients are also okay.
When it comes to portion sizes and how to correctly feed your cat bananas, Dr. Torrent Ample says treats shouldn’t be more than 10% of your cat’s daily energy intake. For a medium-sized cat, this equates to about 3 to 10 grams of peeled, uncooked bananas per day.
On average, a medium banana weighs 118 grams, so the amount a cat can safely eat is likely a single round coin sliced from the banana. To be sure, measure the piece of banana on a well-calibrated kitchen scale.
What Are the Risks of Cats Eating Bananas?
Cats don’t have taste receptors for sweetness like humans, so you’re not likely to catch them begging for a bite of your banana. But, if they do, know that the sugars and starches naturally found in bananas make them an unideal treat for obese, overweight, or diabetic cats.
Cats with chronic kidney disease should also avoid bananas due to their high potassium content.
That said, Dr. Torrent Ample says if you do have a banana-curious kitty without those pre-existing health problems, a bite or two of your banana won’t pose any significant risk of gastrointestinal issues or digestive upset for cats.
What Other Fruits Are Good & Bad For Cats?
“Certain fruits and vegetables contain valuable phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, which play important roles as antioxidants or in cancer protection,” Dr. Torrent Ample says. Some of these nutrient-packed fruits include blueberries and pomegranates.
That said, there’s also a handful of fruits toxic to cats. Some fruits cause fatal kidney problems in cats, while others lead to nervous system and GI issues. These seven fruits are highly toxic to cats. If your cat ingests any of these, go to an emergency vet.
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Oranges
- Limes
- Lemons
- Grapefruit
- Chocolate-covered fruits